In just the last week, Miramar Police released surveillance video of Vilet Torrez arriving at her gated community before she disappeared, and made public the 911 call Cid Torrez made reporting his estranged wife missing. And on Thursday, detectives returned to Vilet Torrez’s home with another search warrant.
Those new developments show that police don’t have much to go on, says Wayne Black, who has been an investigator in the public and private sectors for more than 30 years.
“And when they start releasing the information they’re releasing, they're probably at a dead end. It's a shame but these cases are tough,” said Black, who worked for the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, and on the case of Tiffany Sessions, who is still missing after more than 20 years.
Black said the police moves and resulting publicity could stimulate activity from people who know what happened.
“Someone that may have information and maybe they’re coming forward. It’s really a good move on their part,” he said.
It has been two and a half months since Vilet Torrez has been seen. Authorities suspect foul play and named Cid Torrez as a person of interest, though he has said he did not see or have contact with his wife on the early morning she disappeared.
A recent police press release still referred to her as missing.
“But I think they’re treating it like a murder,” Black said. “They say foul play but, you know, the M word isn’t coming out yet.”
The only time it has was on a warrant filed just a few days after her disappearance, which sought evidence of murder in the first degree.
The victim’s brother, attorney Javier Blanco, has made it perfectly clear what he believes happened to his sister.
“I think he killed her. I think he choked her,” Blanco said last month outside a Broward County courtroom.
When the 911 tape was released last Tuesday, Cid Torrez’s attorney Richard Della Fera sent Blanco a letter in which he wrote, “I therefore demand that you cease and desist from your public comments declaring my client guilty of murder. This case may never go to trial. However, if it does, your comments are contrary to the presumption of innocence and the right to a fair trial.”
Blanco wrote in response, “It is with great irony and sadness that I now find my gifted profession being used against me in the most trying time of my life.”
Meanwhile, police detectives continue their investigation. The office of State Attorney Michael Satz will make the ultimate decision, Black noted.
“And they'll file charges only if there's a substantial likelihood of a conviction. But now there's no rush,” Black said.
He added, “There really is no rush at this point. I mean if they haven’t found the body, they take their time and gather the evidence and do their work.”
